THE recent call for a revolutionary government to supposedly pave the way for a federal system is wrapped with sedition, like a Mexican burrito or Turkish shawarma garnished with all the toppings, undermining the intelligence of Filipinos.
Legitimate organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) readily dismissed the call and considered it an insensitive attempt to reopen the issue even in the midst of a pandemic.
We may recall, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to place our country under a revolutionary government. The subject died a natural death since Filipinos already got used to this kind of threat from the President.
The proponents, alleged to be Duterte’s supporters adherent to revolutionary doctrines, call for a Charter change while asking for the abolition of the 1987 Constitution. It also calls for the dissolution of the two branches of government, the Legislative and the Judiciary. We may have flaws in our system of government, but I believe it is still a “work in progress” to have an ideal one. No democratic government is perfect.
They also suggested that this be led by the incumbent President, indicative of how ignorant they are of the term “revolutionary,” especially when they refer to their version as similar to the Edsa Revolution of 1986.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary has several definitions of the word revolutionary. To mention a few: “a fundamental change in political organization; the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed; an activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socio-economic situation.”
Wikipedia shows there were several revolutions in the world, but none topped the one that happened in the 1390s.
“The revolts that broke all over Persia while Timor Lenk was away were repressed with ruthless vigor while cities were destroyed, their populations massacred and towers built of their skulls.”
In this Covid-19 health crisis, when Filipinos are placed in limbo as to when their suffering will end, every single minute is spent by economically displaced citizens worrying as to where to get their next meal.
Through the CBCP, have we prayed enough for God’s intervention? We must be mindful that God interferes in the affairs of men by invitation only.